Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the Russian delegates were interested in how government helps establish research parks. (Paul Huggins/phuggins@al.com)

Hit it with a soft peach.

Translation: Invite a group of Russian delegates to spend a week in Huntsville so they can learn how industry, government and universities collaborate in the development of technical research parks.

Dr. Aleksandr Zhighitov, director of the Innovation Center in the Buryatia Republic of Russia, said America has made strong impressions since the delegates arrived in Washington, D.C., on Friday, and one of the best is the openness of the people.

It's a contrast to Russians, which he compared to a nut because they put up a hard, protective personality that takes more time to get information from them; whereas Americans are like "peaches," Zhighitov said, because they have softer, sweeter behaviors.

"The local families are open and friendly, interesting people to meet and have interesting jobs," Zhighitov said through the delegation's facilitator, Sergey Ibragimov.

He also said he was struck by the sight that Huntsville residents don't have fences and private gates surrounding their entire lots.

The delegation hails from Ulan-Ude, capital of the Buryatia Republic of Russia, near Mongolia. One member is a mortgage processor, two are directors of research centers and two are engaged in developing technology.

Ulan-Ude lies about 3,500 miles east of Moscow and 60 miles southeast of Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake (almost 5,400 feet), containing about 20 percent of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water.

The city's population of more than 400,000 is a mixture of native Asians and western Europeans. The latter moved into the area in the 18th century, much like America's westward expansion. It's primary religion is Buddhism.

The area has a strong agricultural base for growing wheat, but like Huntsville, also has an industrial component connected with military work. The Russian SU-27 fighter jet is built in Ulan-Ude.

The delegation is part of the Open World Leadership program sponsored by the U.S. Congress. The official host is the Huntsville Area Friendship Force, which is tasked with not only providing living accommodations to the Russians, but also set up 37 hours of training by visiting with local officials, cultural sites and attractions.

David Lambert of Huntsville is one of the hosts. While the retired engineer has a vast knowledge of technological experience to share, he said the group will learn much more by meeting those involved in the free enterprise process.

Their visit will include, but not limited to, local universities, the chamber of commerce, NASA and HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology. On Tuesday, they met with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.

Battle said the meeting gives a strong indication of the difficulty with Russia's transition from Communism to Capitalism.

"The free enterprise system is a little bit baffling to them," he said. "Their system is more rigid with more government control.

"They kept asking how much does government get involved in day-to-day operations," Battle said. "And one question was about housing subsidies and our research park and where our companies are located. They wanted to know, 'Do you put your employee housing next to (the research park).'"

Zhighitov said he was surprised to learn how big a role non-profit groups and non-government agencies, such as the North Alabama International Trade Association, play in helping businesses and that there is a mutual support network within the business community to solve problems.

"For us, if there is a problem, we wait till it's solved from above," he said of the Russian government's approach.

Russia has a long way to go in its transition to a free enterprise system, Zhighitov said, but the information he and his fellow delegates are learning here should help them avoid mistakes Americans have learned from and "make the transition process faster."